1 N ow faith is being sure we will get what we hope for. It is being sure of what we cannot see.

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things hope for, being the proof of things do not see and the conviction of their reality.

2 G od was pleased with the men who had faith who lived long ago.

For by '> trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report.

3 T hrough faith we understand that the world was made by the Word of God. Things we see were made from what could not be seen.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.

4 B ecause Abel had faith, he gave a better gift in worship to God than Cain. His gift pleased God. Abel was right with God. Abel died, but by faith he is still speaking to us.

by faith Abel brought God a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, because of which it was testified of him that he was righteous, and God bore witness by accepting and acknowledging his gifts. And though he died, yet he is still speaking.

5 B ecause Enoch had faith, he was taken up from the earth without dying. He could not be found because God had taken him. The Holy Writings tell how he pleased God before he was taken up.

Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God.

6 A man cannot please God unless he has faith. Anyone who comes to God must believe that He is. That one must also know that God gives what is promised to the one who keeps on looking for Him.

But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him.

7 B ecause Noah had faith, he built a large boat for his family. God told him what was going to happen. His faith made him hear God speak and he obeyed. His family was saved from death because he built the boat. In this way, Noah showed the world how sinful it was. Noah became right with God because of his faith in God.

by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his own family. By this he passed judgment and sentence on the world’s unbelief and became an heir and possessor of righteousness ( that relation of being right into which God puts the person who has faith).

8 B ecause Abraham had faith, he obeyed God when God called him to leave his home. He was to go to another country that God promised to give him. He left his home without knowing where he was going.

by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.

9 H is faith in God kept him living as a stranger in the country God had promised to him. Isaac and Jacob had received the same promise. They all lived in tents together.

by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise.

10 A braham was looking to God and waiting for a city that could not be moved. It was a city planned and built by God.

For he was looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.

11 B ecause Sarah had faith, she was able to have a child long after she was past the age to have children. She had faith to believe that God would do what He promised.

Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered Who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word.

12 A braham was too old to have children. But from this one man came a family with as many in it as the stars in the sky and as many as the sand by the sea.

So from one man, though he was physically as good as dead, there have sprung descendants whose number is as the stars of heaven and as countless as the innumerable sands on the seashore.

13 T hese people all died having faith in God. They did not receive what God had promised to them. But they could see far ahead to all the things God promised and they were glad for them. They knew they were strangers here. This earth was not their home.

These people all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of promises, only having seen it and greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the while acknowledging and confessing that they were strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the earth.

14 P eople who say these things show they are looking for a country of their own.

Now those people who talk as they did show plainly that they are in search of a fatherland (their own country).

15 T hey did not think about the country they had come from. If they had, they might have gone back.

If they had been thinking with remembrance of that country from which they were emigrants, they would have found constant opportunity to return to it.

16 B ut they wanted a better country. And so God is not ashamed to be called their God. He has made a city for them.

But the truth is that they were yearning for and aspiring to a better and more desirable country, that is, a heavenly. For that reason God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

17 B ecause Abraham had faith, when he was tested, he gave his son Isaac as a gift on the altar in worship. God had made a promise to Abraham that He would give him a son. And yet Abraham was willing to give his only son as a gift on the altar in worship.

By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test '> still in progress], had already brought Isaac for an offering; he who had gladly received and welcomed promises was ready to sacrifice his only son,

18 G od had said to Abraham, “Your family will come from Isaac.”

Of whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your descendants be reckoned.

19 A braham believed God was able to bring Isaac back to life again. And so it may be said that Abraham did receive him back from death.

For he reasoned that God was able to raise up even from among the dead. Indeed in the sense that Isaac was figuratively dead, he did receive him back from the dead.

20 B ecause Isaac had faith, he said that good would come to Jacob and Esau in the future.

faith Isaac, looking far into the future, invoked blessings upon Jacob and Esau.

21 B ecause Jacob had faith, he said that good would come to each of Joseph’s sons as he was dying. He used his walking stick to hold him up as he prayed to God.

by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in prayer over the top of his staff.

22 B ecause Joseph had faith, he spoke of the Jews leaving the country of Egypt. He was going to die soon, and he told them to bury his body in the country where they were going.

by faith Joseph, when nearing the end of his life, referred to the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his own bones.

23 B ecause of faith, Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months. They saw that he was a beautiful child. They were not afraid of the king when he said that all baby boys should be killed.

by faith Moses, after his birth, was kept concealed for three months by his parents, because they saw how comely the child was; and they were not overawed and terrified by the king’s decree.

24 B ecause Moses had faith, he would not be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter when he grew up.

by faith Moses, when he had grown to maturity and become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

25 H e chose to suffer with God’s people instead of having fun doing sinful things for awhile.

Because he preferred to share the oppression and bear the shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life.

26 A ny shame that he suffered for Christ was worth more than all the riches in Egypt. He kept his eyes on the reward God was going to give him.

He considered the contempt and abuse and shame the Christ (the Messiah Who was to come) to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward (recompense).

27 B ecause Moses had faith, he left Egypt. He was not afraid of the king’s anger. Moses did not turn from the right way but kept seeing God in front of him.

by faith he left Egypt behind him, being unawed and undismayed by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible.

28 B ecause Moses had faith, he told all the Jews to put blood over their doors. Then the angel of death would pass over their houses and not kill their oldest sons.

By faith (simple trust and confidence in God) he instituted and carried out the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn (the angel) might not touch those.

29 B ecause the Jews had faith, they went through the Red Sea as if they were on dry ground. But when the people of Egypt tried to go through, they were all killed by the water.

by faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do the same thing they were swallowed up.

30 B ecause the Jews had faith, the walls of the city of Jericho fell down after the Jews had walked around the city for seven days.

Because of faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encompassed for seven days.

31 B ecause Rahab had faith, she was kept from being killed along with those who did not obey God. She was a woman who sold the use of her body. But she helped the men who had come in secret to look over the country. There Were Many More Who Had Faith in God

by faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who refused to believe and obey, because she had received the spies in peace.

32 W hat more should I say? There is not enough time to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthah and of David and of Samuel and of the early preachers.

And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

33 I t was because these people had faith that they won wars over other countries. They were good leaders. They received what God promised to them. They closed the mouths of lions

Who by faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions,

34 a nd stopped fire that was burning. They got away from being killed with swords. They were made strong again after they had been weak and sick. They were strong in war. They made fighting men from other countries run home.

Extinguished the power of raging fire, escaped the devourings of the sword, out of frailty and weakness won strength and became stalwart, even mighty and resistless in battle, routing alien hosts.

35 I t was because some women had faith that they received their dead back to life. Others chose to be beaten instead of being set free, because they would not turn against God. In this way, they would be raised to a better life.

women received again their dead by a resurrection. Others were tortured to death with clubs, refusing to accept release, so that they might be resurrected to a better life.

36 O thers were talked against. Some were beaten. Some were put in chains and in prison.

Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging and even chains and imprisonment.

37 T hey were killed by stones being thrown at them. People were cut in pieces. They were tested. They were killed with swords. They wore skins of sheep and goats and had nothing they could call their own. They were hungry and sick. Everyone was bad to them.

They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated—

38 T hey walked around in deserts and in mountains. They looked for caves and holes in the earth to live in. They were too good for this world.

of whom the world was not worthy—roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and in caves and caverns and holes of the earth.

39 I t was because of their faith that God was pleased with them. But they did not receive what God had promised.

And all of these, though they won divine approval by their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised,

40 G od had planned something better for us. These men could not be made perfect without us.

Because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they should not come to perfection apart from us.